英美文学串讲.docVIP

“英美文学选读”串讲资料(1) 　 2004-01-04 16:56:14 　　　　Chapter5 Victorian Period　　1.age:1836-1901　　2.background:(1)early years:rapid economic develpment as well as serious social problems　　(2)the next twenty years:prosperity and relative stability.a national spirit of earnestness,respectability,modesty domesticity　　(3)the last threee decades:the decline of the British empire and the decay of the Victorian values　　3.idea:(1)Darwin‘s The Origin of Species;The Descent of Man shook the theoretical basis of the traditional faith　　(2)Utilitarianism:whether it could promote the material happiness　　(3)socially conscious writers criticized(2)‘s depreciation of cultural values,cold indifference towards human feeling　　(4)literature:magnitude and diversity, romantically and realistically　　4.critical realist writers:criticized the society,concerned about the fate of common people　　Charles Dickens　　1.theme:critical realist writers,criticize:poverty,injustice,hypocrisy,corruptness　　2.works: Oliver Twist; The Pickwick Paper; David Copperfield; Domeby and Son; A Tale of Two Cities; Bleak House; Little Dorrit; Hard Times; Great Expectations　　3.characteristics:(1)he is skillful in the dialect and have a large vocabulary　　(2)character portrayal　　(3)characters are mostly innocent,helpless,persecuted child characters　　(4)a mixture of humor and sympathism　　(5)bizarre figure,horrible 　　4.Oliver Twist:the cruelty and hypocrisy of the workhouse system and the dark criminal underworld life　　The Bronte Sisters　　1.scene:vast,rough,untouched moorland wilderness　　2.Charlotte Bronte:Jane Eyre　　Mr.Rochester and Jane Eyre. 　　Rochester:a grim-looking,energetic,quick-tempered,but an understanding middle-aged man　　Jane Eyre:has a burning spirit and a longing to love and be loved　　Jane Eyre:struggles for recognition of her basic rights and equality as a woman.It‘s an individual conscious struggle towards self-realization.She gets joy through the sacrifice of herself or her wea